Photonic crystal device

Abstract

A photonic crystal device including a method of forming the photonic crystal device is provided wherein the photonic crystal device comprises a first medium having a thickness and periodically defining a plurality of periodically spaced concave portions. The concave portions having a depth less than the thickness of the first medium. A second medium fills the concave portions. One layer of the device, including both the first and second medium, acts as an optical waveguide layer, or photonic crystal. Another layer is at least partially formed from the first medium, such that the first and second layers share a common medium. A method of forming the photonic crystal device including the steps of applying a resist layer to a first medium, removing portions of the resist layer and corresponding portions of the first medium to form vacancies, and filling the vacancies with a second medium.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An optical device comprising: 
       a first medium having a thickness, the first medium defining a plurality of periodically spaced hollow portions having a depth less than the thickness of the first medium; and  
       a second medium being dispersed within the hollow portions formed in the first medium,  
       wherein a first layer of the device forms a photonic crystal formed partially of the first medium having a depth identical to the depth of the hollow portions, and  
       wherein a second layer of the device is formed entirely of the first medium.  
     
     
       2. An optical device according to  claim 1  wherein the index of refraction of the second medium is greater than the index of refraction of the first medium. 
     
     
       3. A method of manufacturing an optical device having a first layer functioning as an optical waveguide layer and a second layer functioning as a base layer, the method comprising the steps of: 
       providing a resist layer on a surface of a first medium;  
       removing portions of the resist layer to form vacancies;  
       removing portions of the first medium corresponding to the vacancies to create cavities in the first medium, the depth of the cavities being less than a thickness of the first medium, and thereby defining the first layer and second layer;  
       removing the resist layer completely;  
       filling the cavities in the first medium with a second medium, thereby forming the optical waveguide layer; and  
       removing any excess film of the second medium from the surface of the first medium,  
       wherein the index of refraction of the second medium is greater than the index of refraction of the first medium.  
     
     
       4. An optical device comprising: 
       a first medium having a thickness, the first medium at least partially forming a first layer and a second layer of the optical device, the first layer having a plurality of periodically spaced protruding portions surrounded by hollow portions having a depth less than the thickness of the first medium, the first layer having a depth identical to the depth of the hollow portions; and  
       a second medium being dispersed within the hollow portions surrounding the plurality of periodically spaced protruding portions of the first layer,  
       wherein the first layer is a photonic crystal, and the second layer is formed entirely of the first medium, and  
       wherein the first layer and the second layer are integrated.  
     
     
       5. An optical device according to  claim 4  wherein the index of refraction of the second medium is greater than the index of refraction of the first medium. 
     
     
       6. A method of manufacturing an optical device having a first layer functioning as an optical waveguide layer and a second layer functioning as a base layer, the method comprising the steps of: 
       providing a resist layer on a surface of a first medium;  
       removing portions of the resist layer to form vacancies;  
       removing portions of the first medium corresponding to the vacancies to create cavities in the first medium, the depth of the cavities being less than a thickness of the first medium, and thereby defining the first layer and second layer;  
       filling the cavities in the first medium with a second medium, thereby forming the optical waveguide layer; and  
       removing the resist layer and any excess film of the second medium from the surface of the first medium,  
       wherein the index of refraction of the second medium is greater than the index of refraction of the first medium.  
     
     
       7. An optical device having a first layer functioning as an optical waveguide layer and a second layer functioning as a base layer, formed by a method comprising the steps of: 
       providing a resist layer on a surface of a first medium;  
       removing portions of the resist layer to form vacancies;  
       removing portions of the first medium corresponding to the vacancies to create cavities in the first medium, the depth of the cavities being less than a thickness of the first medium, and thereby defining the first layer and second layer;  
       removing the resist layer completely;  
       filling the cavities in the first medium with a second medium, thereby forming the optical waveguide layer; and  
       removing any excess film of the second medium from the surface of the first medium,  
       wherein the index of refraction of the second medium is greater than the index of refraction of the first medium.  
     
     
       8. An optical device having a first layer functioning as an optical waveguide layer and second layer functioning as a base layer, formed by a method comprising the steps of: 
       providing a resist layer on a surface of a first medium;  
       removing portions of the resist layer to form vacancies;  
       removing portions of the first medium corresponding to the vacancies to create cavities in the first medium, the depth of the cavities being less than a thickness of the first medium, and thereby defining the first layer and second layer;  
       filling the cavities in the first medium with a second medium, thereby forming the optical waveguide layer; and  
       removing the resist layer and any excess film of the second medium from the surface of the first medium,  
       wherein the index of refraction of the second medium is greater than the index of refraction of the first medium.  
     
     
       9. An optical device comprising: 
       a first medium having a thickness, the first medium at least partially forming an integrated first layer and second layer of the optical device, the first layer defining a plurality of periodically spaced hollow portions, the hollow portions having a depth less than the thickness of the first medium, the first layer having a depth identical to the depth of the hollow portions; and  
       a second medium being dispersed within the hollow portions,  
       wherein the first layer of the optical device forms a photonic crystal, and  
       wherein the second layer of the device is formed at least partially of the first medium.  
     
     
       10. An optical device according to  claim 9  wherein the index of refraction of the second medium is greater than the index of refraction of the first medium.